Bassetlaw

Bassetlaw's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census show there were changes in average age, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 110,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Bassetlaw increased by 4.8%, from almost 108,000 to 113,000.

The addition of almost 5,200 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Bassetlaw was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Bassetlaw

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Bassetlaw increased by four years, from 39 to 43 years.

This rural area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,800 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 4,000.

About 13% of people in Bassetlaw are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Bassetlaw by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Bassetlaw

The number of people in Bassetlaw that described themselves as Christian increased from just under 88,000 in 2001 to just under 80,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 82% to 71% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 72% to 59%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Bassetlaw that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 11,000 in 2001 to just under 24,000 in 2011 (from 10.0% to 21%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 8,200 to just over 7,700 (from 7.6% to 6.8%).

About 700 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from about 350 in 2001 (0.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Bassetlaw decreased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Bassetlaw by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Bassetlaw that rented privately increased from 7.4% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in six (16%) households lived in social housing, compared with 20% in 2001. The percentage of Bassetlaw households that owner their home decreased from 71% to 69%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Bassetlaw increased by 5.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Bassetlaw, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Bassetlaw residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% to 6.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of Bassetlaw residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Bassetlaw decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Bassetlaw, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Bassetlaw working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 11% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 14% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Bassetlaw decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Bassetlaw, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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